American Knife and Tool Institute

Keeping Knives in American Lives Since 1998

  • 
  • Contribute Today
  • Login

Keeping Knives in American Lives Since 1998

  • Home
  • About
    • Board of Regents
    • Advisory Members
    • Premier Members
    • FAQs
    • History
  • Membership
    • Membership Information
    • Knife Industry
    • Knife Users
    • Information For Members
    • Be a Grassroots Supporter!
  • Legislation
    • Follow Current Knife Legislation
    • Finding Knife Laws
    • Contacting Legislators
    • Success Stories
    • How a Bill Becomes Law
  • Education
    • For Law Enforcement
    • For Legislators
    • Kids and Knives
    • The Ivory Ban
    • Brand Protection
  • News
    • Action Alerts
    • Free to Carry
    • Upcoming Events
    • Industry News
    • For Media
  • Resources
    • Career Center
    • Encounters With Law Enforcement
    • Counterfeit Knives
    • Traveling With a Knife
    • Knife Standards
    • Brochures & Handouts
    • Knives Save Lives!
    • Buy an AKTI Luggage Tag
  • State Knife Laws
    • State Auto-Open Laws
    • Federal Switchblade Act
    • About Statewide Knife Preemption
    • Court Case Summaries
    • Encounters With Law Enforcement
    • The Legal Edge
  • Contact Us
    • Refund Policy
    • Terms of Service

Washington State Knife Bill Stalled

February 21, 2019

UPDATE:  SB 5782 passed out of the Committee on Law & Justice by a unanimous vote on February 21, 2019, and on March 5, 2019, passed the Senate with only one “no” vote.  The bill then stalled in the House after an amendment was added.  We’ll be back for next year’s session!

A Senate Committee on Law & Justice hearing was held on Monday, February, 18, on bipartisan SB 5782, a knife bill that would remove “spring blade knife” (aka automatic or switchblade) from Washington State Statute RCW 9.41.250, allowing law-abiding individuals to possess and sell these knives.  A vote is expected as soon as today.

Spencer Frazer (SOG Knives & Tools), Jeff Swanson (Blade Gallery) and Mike Vellekamp (V Knives) testifying in support of SB 5782 on Feb. 18, 2019.

Testimony was heard from Spencer Fraser of SOG Knives & Tools (AKTI Board of Regent member), knife retailer Jeff Swanson, and Mike Vellekamp, owner of V Knives, who has been the driving force behind this knife bill.  The televised hearing can be viewed here.  Also testifying for the Second Amendment organization, Knife Rights, was their lobbyist Todd Rathner.

Since 2012, knife manufacturers in the state of Washington are allowed to manufacture automatic knives with the passage of HB 2347 that also clarified the definition of a switchblade knife, and extended the legal possession of automatics to active military, firefighters, and rescue responders, in addition to law enforcement.  Mike Vellekemp, then working for Fox Knives, was instrumental in getting that legislation introduced as well.

“Allowing citizens to purchase valuable automatic knives, knives that are legal in the majority of U.S. states, will help Washington knife businesses thrive and create new jobs, ” said Jan Billeb, AKTI Excutive Director.  “We urge the Senate Committee on Law & Justice to move SB 5782 and the legisture to pass it this session.”   (2019 Session adjourns April 28)

Washington State Knife Bill Will Create New Jobs
Washington State Manufacturers Work With Legislators (2012)
Washington State Knife Laws
State Laws Regarding Auto-Open Knives

Filed Under: News

Take Action

  • Become a Member
  • Give an AKTI Membership
  • Stay Informed
Make a Contribution

Popular Resources

  • AKTI Knife Auction
  • AKTI Approved Knife Definitions
  • State Knife Laws
  • State Auto-Open Laws
  • What Every Knife Owner Should Know
  • Traveling with Knives
American Knife & Tool Institute

3 hours ago

American Knife & Tool Institute
Does having and using the knife of your choice matter to you? Stay Informed. Sign up to receive AKTI emails. Be prepared to contact legislators when asked! We only issue Calls to Action when it is really the best strategy for the initiative. www.akti.org/membership/grassroots-supporter/ ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

As a nonprofit association, AKTI’s role is to be the reasonable and responsible advocate for the knife-making and knife-using community; educating, promoting and informing that knives are important tools.

Copyright © American Knife and Tool Institute, all rights reserved
22 Vista View Ln
Cody, WY 82414
307-587-8296
Privacy & Security

  • Home
  • About
  • Membership
  • Legislation
  • Education
  • Brand Protection
  • Contribute Today
  • News
  • Resources
  • State Knife Laws
  • Contact

Members Login

Lost password?